´Today´ Messages: Lightweight Support for Small Group Awareness via Email

´Today´ messages are short status emails sent daily by members of a project team. We present the results of a field study of the use of ´today´ messages by six small work groups over six weeks. The evaluation focuses on the benefits and costs of daily email messages, their effect on group work practice, and a careful investigation using Value Sensitive Design of the effect on human values such as privacy, accountability, and trust. We found that using ´today´ messages resulted in a range of group benefits at low cost, particularly in enhancing group awareness. Contrary to our initial expectations, group members did not have significant privacy or accountability concerns with ´today´ messages. We conclude with a discussion of the technical implications of our study for systems and practices that support group awareness, communication, and coordination.